AIP Kitchen Tour – June 2016

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to see what that means!

In order to support our blogging activities, we may receive monetary compensation or other types or remuneration for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

That being said, we only promote authors, products, and services that we wholeheartedly stand by!

AIP Kitchen Tour is a monthly feature in which we profile a member of the AIP community and their kitchen setup in hopes that it will further inspire us to get our kitchens organized and set up for success! We’ve interviewed folks who are making the AIP lifestyle a reality in everything from college dorms and small city apartments, to large households with non-AIP family members, and everything in between. Through these interviews, we hope to share how they make it happen across a variety of budgets and living situations, and give the community a wealth of inspiration. Read more Kitchen Tours here!

Name: Margaret Romero

Location: Connecticut

AI Disease: Lupus Nephritis

How long have you been eating AIP? 6 months, and gluten-free for 9 years

How has the AIP changed your life?It helped reduce inflammation markers, cleared my skin and eliminated mild digestive issues. I’m used to traveling with gluten-free food and cooking most of my meals at home so that never really changed.

Have you successfully reintroduced any foods?Yes! Eggs, almond milk, and occasionally goat cheese. But I don’t eat eggs everyday. I have them on rotation, so I eat them maybe 1 to 3 times per week max.

Are there any cheap gadgets or little tools that you have found make AIP easier?Yes, I love using the spiralizer for making zucchini “pasta” or cucumber in my salads. A mini Cuisinart is great for making dips and homemade salad dressings. And I love my NutriBullet for making fruit or veggie smoothies in the mornings along with my powdered supplements.

What is the biggest thing that changed in your kitchen setup when you adopted the AIP?I use my deluxe dehydrator to make kale chips more than I used to.

Are there any tricks you have learned to make AIP work in your space? Because I’ve been gluten–free for so long, I already had made modifications by replacing my toaster oven and purchased all new containers to store coconut flour and other gluten–free/paleo flours/foods.

How do you deal with food for family members that are not AIP?They are already accustomed to the fact that I am gluten-free, and they don’t really notice a huge difference except that I don’t use certain ingredients in my cooking like I used to. If they are cooking for me, then they know not to include those ingredients in my meals. And because I love to entertain for friends, they have never complained about the lack of taste or flavor in my cooking and don’t seem to notice the difference!

Are there any tools or appliances that you’ve stopped using now that your diet has changed? Not really, I still never use the microwave, not even to warm up leftovers. I use my toaster oven a couple of times per day or heat up food in a non-toxic ceramic pan or cast iron pan.

Do you have any tips for those starting an elimination diet and setting up their kitchens for the first time?Donate all your non-paleo foods to friends and family. Then plan a fun trip to the supermarket, try a new cooking tool(s), and maybe pick up one or two new AIP cookbooks. Maybe even find a cooking class. Then, while you are still learning, invite some friends over and have a small tasting menu and experiment. And take your time, it only gets easier!

Would you like to be featured in an AIP Kitchen Tour? We feature members of the community who are willing to share the real spaces where they cook, as well as their stories of transitioning to this lifestyle. If you are interested, fill out our interest form!

Grace Heerman is a writer, content coach and yoga teacher from Seattle, and the Blog/Social Media Director for Autoimmune Wellness. Grace designs websites and creates content that capture how great her clients are so they can effectively and authentically share their expertise with the world. She also shares recipes and explores how to live her most vibrant life on her blog.

2 comments

Hi, I enjoyed reading the interview. Not sure if you can help me. I have purchased the aip plan from Mickey and Angie, and have tried following it several times. My problem is that I suffer from very low energy due to bad health, and after about 4 days on the aip diet I find I have extremely low energy – even to the extent of finding it difficult to walk. I know people say they may have some withdrawal symptoms, but mine are extreme. I use a lot of aip recipes, but find I can’t cut out grains and white potatoes altogether, due to these extreme withdrawal symptoms. Do you have any advice, or are some people unable to fully adopt the aip diet? Regards Anthea Smith

Hi Anthea! The reaction you are describing is not typical–you should not be so tired starting the diet. Some people accidentally go too low-carb when adopting AIP–could this be it? I’d suggest trying to eat lots of starchy carbs like sweet potatoes, plantains, winter squash, taro, or yuca to keep your energy levels up. If that doesn’t work, working with a practitioner to troubleshoot may be necessary. Wishing you luck!

Meet Mickey + Angie

With five autoimmune diseases between them, Mickey and Angie found their path to better health with the Autoimmune Protocol. Now it’s their mission to share that approach with nourishing recipes, practical resources, and community connections.LEARN MORE>

Next group starts Sep 3rd!

Our Print Books

Check out our Podcast!

Affiliates

DISCLAIMER

The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Autoimmune Paleo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising feed by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Over 150,000 people have signed up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates. Are you in?

Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get our AIP Quick Start Series. We’ll send you our favorite food lists, meal plans, instructional videos, and other guides (all for free!) to help you get started on your journey. Plus, you’ll never miss an update! Get the AIP Quick Start Series now!

We value your privacy and would never spam you.

Stay connected with the AIP community!

Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get our AIP Quick Start Series. We’ll send you our favorite food lists, meal plans, instructional videos, and other guides (all for free!) to help you get started on your journey. Plus, you’ll never miss an update! Get the AIP Quick Start Series now!